Saudi Electricity Company has revealed plans to launch three independent power projects (IPPs) at Al-Daba, Ras al-Zour and Shuqaiq.

The first of these, which will be Saudi Electricity’s fourth IPP, will be located at Al-Daba on the Red Sea coast in the northwest and will have capacity of 1,000MW. The first unit at Al-Daba is due to start producing electricity in 2016.

The state utility plans a second with capacity of 2,520MW at Ras al-Zour in the Eastern Province. It will start production in 2020.

Finally, Saudi Electricity is planning a third IPP due to start operating in 2021 in Shuqaiq in the southwest. The plant will have capacity of 800MW.

A developer team of the local Acwa Power International and Korea Electric Power Corporation financed Saudi Electricity’s first IPP at Rabigh in late July. It will have capacity of 1,200MW and is due to come on line in 2012.

Bids for the kingdom’s second IPP known as Riyadh PP11 are due on 7 December. The plant will have capacity of 2,000MW and will start producing power in 2012.

A third IPP with capacity of 2,000MW is planned at Qurayyah in the Eastern Province. Saudi Electricity plans to start operating the Qurayyah IPP in 2014.